There was one redeeming feature, however, to Captain Josh, and that was his intense sympathy for any unfortunate creature, whether man or beast.  Let any dumb brute be abused, and it aroused the captain to intense indignation.  And so when he found that most of the people in Hillcrest were turned against Parson Dan’s lad, simply because he was a waif, he naturally took an interest in the boy, which increased the more people talked.  The climax to his interest was reached the day he took Rod’s part against Tom Dunker.

On this Saturday morning Captain Josh had tied the last string, and cut off the ends close to the knot.  He then glanced once more through the window, and his eyes brightened as he saw the little lad he was expecting not far from the house.

Rod was not walking very fast, for he was on new, and hitherto forbidden ground, and, notwithstanding the invitation, he was not altogether sure of the reception he would receive.  He was a trim, looking lad in his well-fitting suit, as clean and neat as Mrs. Royal’s hands could make it, while a large straw hat covered his curly hair.  He wore neither shoes nor stockings, and his feet and legs were as brown as the sun could make them.

Captain Josh was at the shop door to receive him.

“Ye’re late, lad,” was his only greeting.

“I’m sorry, captain,” was the reply, “but I had to go to the store for grandma.  Oh!” and he stopped short as his eyes rested upon the fine full-rigged schooner sitting upon the work-bench.

“How d’ye like it?” the captain asked, delighted at Rod’s interest.

“Great!” and the boy stepped cautiously forward, as if afraid that the white sails were wings; to bear the wonderful thing away.  “Who made it?” he whispered.

“Oh, some fool.”

“You?”

“What! d’ye call me a fool?” the captain roared, looking so fierce that Rod shrank back a step.

“No, no, no.  I didn’t mean that.  I only, I only——­”

“I know, lad, I know,” and the captain laughed heartily.  “Ye didn’t mean any harm.  Yes, I made her years ago fer another boy.  She’s been lyin’ here a long time, and so t’other day I got her down, cleaned her up, and put on new sails, thinkin’ that perhaps ye might like her.”

“What!  For me?” Rod asked in surprise.

“Sure, if ye’d like to have her.”

Would Rod like to have her?  His eyes sparkled, and his hands trembled with excitement as he examined his treasure.  What a wonder it was.

“What’s her name?” he asked.

“The Flyin’ Queen, after the schooner I lost.”

“Will she sail?”

“Y’bet.  Let’s launch her.”

From the window Mrs. Britt watched the two as they walked down to the shore.  She recalled the day, over twenty years ago, when another little lad had trotted as eagerly as Rod by the captain’s side, and it was to sail a small boat, too.  Her eyes grew misty as her thoughts went back to that scene.  But mingled with this sadness was a feeling of thankfulness that her husband had taken such a strong liking to Rod.  Not since Jimmy left had he done such a thing, and she was hopeful that this child would unconsciously change him back to the genial big-hearted man he was when she married him.